Mapping Changes in Settlement Number and Demography in the South of Israel from the Hellenistic to the Early Islamic Period

Journal article

The south of Israel was lately at the heart of a debate regarding the supposed catastrophic effects of the Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA) and the Justinianic plague. The current article aims to contribute to this debate by examining the fluctuations in settlement numbers in the south of modern-day Israel, between the Hellenistic and Early Islamic periods. It will do this by aggregating archaeological survey data, mapping it on ArcGIS and analysing it quantitively and qualitatively, while comparing it with data from excavations. Through this, it will be shown that a decline in settlements occurred only from the 7th century CE and the damaging effects of the LALIA and the Justinianic plague will be questioned.

Authors: Cosijns, L; Olshanetsky, H

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Journal: Open Archaeology
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Article number: 20250065
• Publication date: 2025-12-04
• Acceptance date: 2025-09-25
• DOI: 10.1515/opar-2025-0065
• EISSN: 2300-6560
• ISSN: 2300-6560
• Language: English
• Keywords: Negev desert; Early Islamic; Byzantine; Late Roman; Early Roman; archaeological survey